Simple Things You Can Do To Significantly Improve Skin Quality

Everyone aims to have beautiful, smooth skin, and if we had a chance to wake up in the morning with airbrushed skin, most of us would take it without much thought. While having photoshopped skin isn’t really possible in real life, there are some things we can do to improve our overall skin quality.

Listed below are a few tips for keeping your skin in shape – some you might already be doing, and some might be a complete surprise, so let’s take a look!

Hydrate from the Inside Out

Our skin is a perfect window to the insides of our bodies. If we are sick or lacking in vital nutrients, signs are often manifested through our skin. The same goes for hydration: no amount of hand cream, moisturizer or oil can make your skin look as good as it naturally would if you just drink more water!

An easy way to do this is to drink eight glasses of water per day. If that seems like a lot, remember that some foods are more hydrating than others. Eating fruits – especially melons – can also help you get hydrated (plus it’s a lot tastier than just water!). Green tea is also a great alternative because it’s full of antioxidants which may help promote healthy skin!

Use Natural Oils

The myth that using oil-based products is bad for our skin has now been ousted by science. Oils are now back in full swing!

It’s been known for quite some time that you can use extra virgin olive oil to remove your makeup if you run out of your usual product, but celebrities like Emma Stone maintain their lovely glowing skin by using virgin coconut oil as part of their daily routine. It is a great moisturizer because it prevents water loss from the skin and is cheaper and more natural than most of what you will find on the shelves of a department store.

Don’t stress

It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t look good either. Stress simply isn’t good for our bodies: from raising blood pressure and making our muscles tense up, it also manifests itself on our skin. High stress levels lead to a higher production of the hormone cortisol, which is notorious for causing oily skin and breakouts, as it inhibits the body’s natural response to fight off bacteria that cause acne in the first place.

Research performed at Stanford University found that students who reported feeling stressed had more severe acne breakouts than their calmer colleagues. If you put yourself in stressful situations, remember to try some stress-relieving techniques like meditation, deep breathing or yoga to regain your inner peace.

Go Organic

Our ancestors lived without synthetic chemicals in skin care for thousands of years. Maybe it’s time to turn to Mother Nature! There has been a rise in recent years in all-natural and organic products. Many believe that it is simply better for them, as well as the environment, to use products that rely on nature rather than man-made chemicals.

Don’t Focus just on the Face

We put a lot of care into how our faces look, but the skin is the largest organ on our body, and the face is just a small part of it. Luckily, more and more companies are releasing products designed for use on your entire body, from scrubs to moisturizers. Treat your entire body like you treat your face and you will be well on your way to having glowing skin all over!

Be Careful of the Sun

Sun gives us life. We take vitamin D through our skin and use it to fuel different processes in our body that keep us alive and healthy. However, we haven’t been so kind to our planet, and we’ve destroyed some of the protective layers in the atmosphere, which has made the sun more harmful to us.

The sun’s UV rays can give us a nice tan, but they are also the leading cause of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Use sunscreen daily, or get a moisturizer with high SPF (above 15) to counter the harmful effects of sun exposure.

Get Enough Sleep

While we are sleeping, our mind is resting, but our bodies are working hard to get us fixed up for the day to come. If we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies won’t have the time to do all the necessary preparation. Besides the big, dark bags under your eyes, there is another important aspect to this: sleep-deprived bodies are more prone to stress and inflammation, both of which have negative effects on your skin.

So let’s summarize: If you want to have healthy, glowing skin, you first need to be healthy on the inside. If your diet and mind are not balanced, your skin will surely show it! Beauty really does come from within, and a tired, malnourished body is really hard to cover up.

While being healthy on the inside is a necessary base, truly flawless skin requires tender loving external care as well! Try using oils and all-natural products with a high SPF – you’re skin will thank you! One final note: don’t stress. Not about your skin, or about anything else, because it will take a serious toll on your skin, health and overall quality of life.

Zara Lewis is a regular contributor at ripped.me, a traveller and a mother to two. Originally from Chicago, she found her place in the sun in Perth, Australia. Passionate about creating a better world for the generations to come, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter